Dog Itching Like Crazy? Hot Spot Cream to the Rescue!

Okay, so my dog, Buster, he's a golden retriever, and he gets these awful hot spots. You know, those red, irritated patches of skin that dogs just can't stop licking? It's heartbreaking to watch, and I always feel so helpless. So, I decided to try making my own hot spot cream, and let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey!

Gathering Supplies

First things first, I needed to get my ingredients together. I'd done some reading online, and it seemed like a mix of soothing and healing stuff was the way to go. Here's what I ended up grabbing:

• Coconut oil: Apparently, this stuff is good for everything! I figured it would be a good base and moisturize his skin.
• Aloe vera gel: Remember putting this on sunburns as a kid? Same idea here – cooling and soothing.
• Calendula oil: This was a new one for me, but the internet said it was good for healing skin. I found it at a health food store.
• Chamomile tea bags: Yep, the kind you drink! I read that chamomile can be calming for irritated skin.

Brewing and Mixing

The chamomile part was a bit weird. I brewed a really strong cup of tea, like, super strong, using two tea bags. I let it cool down completely – don't want to burn the poor pup!

Then, I mixed everything together. I scooped out a few big spoonfuls of coconut oil into a bowl. I squirted in a good amount of aloe vera gel – probably about the same amount as the coconut oil. Then I added a few drops of the calendula oil (that stuff is potent!) and poured in the cooled chamomile tea.

I whisked it all up with a fork. It looked kinda like a weird, lumpy lotion, but I figured it would do the trick.

The Application Process

Getting Buster to stay still was the real challenge. He HATES having anything put on his hot spots. I enlisted my husband to help hold him while I dabbed the cream onto the affected area. Buster squirmed, he whined, he gave me the sad puppy dog eyes… it was rough.

But, I persisted! I got a good layer of the cream on the hot spot and then (this is important!) I put a cone on him. Yep, the dreaded cone of shame. Otherwise, he'd just lick all that cream right off.

The Results

I applied the cream a couple of times a day, and honestly, I started seeing a difference within a day or two. The redness went down, and Buster seemed a lot less itchy. It wasn't an instant miracle cure, but it definitely helped soothe his skin and allowed it to heal.

It's still important to watch the affected area, though, clean it and if it isn't heeling then go see a Vet!

So, would I make my own hot spot cream again? Probably! It was a bit of work, but seeing Buster more comfortable made it totally worth it. Plus, I felt like a super-dog-mom, whipping up a homemade remedy.